Sunday, January 28, 2007

when I was a little girl, I vividly remember my Grandma Johnson daily telling my sister and me "I L-O-V-E you" and singing "You are my sunshine" as we played around her while she was cutting dumpling strips at the kitchen table.

I'm not sure I fully appreciated the depth of being someone's sunshine until the past few extremely dreary weeks in the deep South. we have definitely expereinced almost months on end with just a few rays of sunshine here and there, so today, when I felt and saw the warmth of the sunshine, it seemed I could feel its healing cathartic qualities all the way to my toenails. clear as day, my mind took me back to her strong alto voice singing:

you are my sunshinemy only sunshineyou make me happy when skies are grayyou'll never know, dear, how much I love youplease don't take my sunshine away

I can only hope that Kim and I provided Grandma Johnson real warmth and joy of a healing nature during our slice of her 86 years.

I love memories.

2 Comments - 5 KudosI've always been truly fond of this song! Somehow [and I'm not consciously sure how] it is uniquely special to me. I'm glad to hear that it is special to someone else, too. Thanks for sharing!!!!Posted by lotts2tel on January 29, 2007 - Monday 5:14 PM

This brought a little "sunshine" to my cold and cloudy North Alabama day!Posted by Rachel on January 31, 2007 - Wednesday 11:27 AM

Sunday, January 21, 2007

isn't it ironic how we fail to notice the positives until they're no longer there? happiness, for instance. my friends can be totally cheerful and amiable with people for weeks -- even months -- but the day they show their humanity, boom! someone (or many ones) begin the judging.

I just think it's interesting that our nature is to be human -- rotten, even -- yet we hold ourselves to a standard that is so high and often a huge, suppressing facade just to make others think everything is ok.

don't get me wrong. this is not deep. in fact, it's a slam on myself for the many times I've shown my humanity. I just find it quite intriguing when I think of the opportunities I've had to show it millions of times more, without any positive reinforcement. yet when it comes out once, the handcuffs are slapped on.

so maybe I need to remember that the Kroger cashier has held it together for years, perhaps, when she snaps at me for not having my Kroger card. and that others maybe haven't had a perfect day, either, but they've done really well up until this point.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

I've just returned from an adventuresome road trip with friends who are exceptionally near and dear to my heart, so why, one might ask, am I thanking God it's Tuesday (particularly when Tuesday means the road trip is over)?

There are a few explanations for this. Some of the main reasons I'm thanking God it's Tuesday, despite the fact I'm away from my friends and back in the "real world" are...

1. This Tuesday begins a really short work week, which is always fun.

2. I have some pretty hilarious memories to think back on when I start missing my girls...

3. The pictures are now downloaded and it doesn't matter if my battery dies.

4. My suitcase is unpacked and back in its hiding place, as opposed to acting as the center of my entire wardrobe.

5. Coming home from a fun getaway -- albeit adventuresome, and not always in a good way -- allows me to sincerely and blissfully appreciate my norm. Who'd have thunk it?

6. I got to hang out with yet another set of fun friends tonight. Woohoo!!!

7. I have more than my car charger to rely on for keeping my phone alive.

8. I know the road system here.

9. I know that there's a strong probability we'll have a next time, and I can already start looking forward to that.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

The city of Los Angeles once named a street after Jack Bauer in gratitude for his saving the city several times. They had to rename it after people kept dying when they tried to cross the street. No one crosses Jack Bauer and lives.

Passed out, surrounded by terrorists and nerve gas, and handcuffed to a table leg, Jack Bauer laughed to himself and said, "I have them right where I want them."

If everyone on "24" followed Jack Bauer's instructions, it would be called "12."

Jack Bauer's calendar goes from March 31st to April 2nd. No one fools Jack Bauer.

Upon hearing that he was played by Kiefer Sutherland, Jack Bauer killed Sutherland. Jack Bauer gets played by no man.

Once, someone tried to tell Jack Bauer a "knock knock" joke. In a matter of minutes, Jack Bauer found out who was there, who they worked for, and where the bomb was.

When life gave Jack Bauer lemons, he used them to kill terrorists. Jack Bauer hates lemonade.

Superman wears Jack Bauer pajamas.

If Jack Bauer's gun jams, it's because he wanted to beat you with it.

American Idol is only popular because it has a commercial for "24."

Jack Bauer once won a game of Connect 4 in three moves.

Jack Bauer was never addicted to heroin. Heroin was addicted to Jack Bauer.

Jack doesn't believe in Murphy's Law, only Bauer's Law: "Whatever CAN go wrong WILL be resolved in a period of 24 hours."

Jack Bauer wasn't born, he was unleashed.

Jack Bauer could strangle you with a cordless phone.

On a high school math test, Jack Bauer put down "violence" as every one of the answers. He got an A+ on the test because Jack Bauer solves all his problems with violence.

Tony was once shot in the neck, rushed to the hospital, underwent emergency surgery and was back on the job in just a few hours. Jack Bauer still can't believe that wimp went to the hospital first.

When someone asks him how his day is going, Jack replies, "Previously, on 24..."

Simon Says should be renamed to Jack Bauer Says because if Jack Bauer says something, you'd better do it.

Jack Bauer once arm wrestled Superman. The stipulations were that the loser had to wear his underwear on the outside of his pants forevermore.

When Google can't find something, it asks Jack Bauer for help.

In the 18 months where Jack Bauer was presumed dead, Tony Almeida was put in a coma, Michelle and David Palmer were killed, a major hurricane raveged the Gulf Coast, and Rob Schneider made another movie. See what happens when Bauer isn't around?

You know Jack Bauer loves Audrey when he willingly gives up the opportunity to torture her.

When President Palmer quit to start doing Allstate commercials, it took him 43 takes before he could stop saying, "You're in good hands with Jack Bauer."

Chase waited until he was sure Jack Bauer was dead before he dumped Kim.

Jack Bauer can get McDonald's breakfast after 10:30.

When Jack Bauer was a child, he made his mother finish his vegetables.

People with amnesia still remember Jack Bauer.

Jack Bauer removed the "Escape" button from his keyboard. Jack Bauer never needs to escape.

Finding Nemo would have been vastly more exciting had Jack Bauer been looking for him.

If Jack Bauer lived next door to Kramer, Kramer would knock before entering.

RJ - You crack me up! Where'd you get this list? I MUST forward your blog to my neighbor, who's an avid 24 fan! Although, the less-than-perfect references to the "love of my life" -Superman... I'll forward it anyway! See you Tue!Posted by lotts2tel on January 13, 2007 - Saturday 10:26 AM

Absolutely hilarious! I JUST got finished watching the premiere of '24'!!! Please tell me you and C aren't waiting until it comes out on DVD! ;o)...now please excuse me, while I go read this to my parents.Posted by Skye on January 14, 2007 - Sunday 7:28 PM